A unique look into Friday first-round matchups

By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

Has it already been a year since Hanover Central’s Andrew Howe tech-falled his way through the 152-pound bracket at the individual state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse?

Since eventual team champion Evansville Mater Dei brought a state-best 11 wrestlers to the finals, only to have but one advance to the championship round?

Since Anderson Highland’s Camden Eppert came out in that Scottish plaid singlet before winning the 103 crown?

Sheesh. Where DOES the time go ...

As is my wont, come along as I take a look at extra-interesting matchups from this weekend’s 70th Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals.

Juicy first-round matchups on Friday
There are four opening-night bouts that feature wrestlers that are both ranked in the first five of their respective classes. They are:

•   At 112, the aforementioned top-ranked defending 103 state champ Eppert (37-2) goes against Brown County’s No. 4 Mitchell Richey (36-1). Eppert faces this predicament after his second straight Saturday championship loss to No. 2 Brandon Wright of Indianapolis Cathedral (the defending 112 state runner-up), while Richey suffered his first loss of the year in the semistate semifinals.
•   At 130, we have top-ranked Kyle Marsh of West Noble (42-1) facing Crown Point’s No. 5 Eric Roach (38-3). Marsh suffered his first loss of the year in the semistate semifinals, whereas Roach dropped his second straight Saturday championship to Valparaiso’s Tom Churchard (the defending state runner-up at 130).
•   At 145, it’s No. 2 George Markou of Peru (45-3) vs. Evansville Reitz’s No. 4 Connor Houchins (44-7). Markou was upset in the semistate finals by No. 8 Tyler Baker of Bellmont, while Houchins dropped a semistate semifinal last week.
•   At 215, Jasper’s No. 2 Jeremy Steinhart (38-2) will open with No. 5 Colin Warner of Tipton (36-4). Steinhart was forced to injury default in the semistate finals to undefeated No. 19 Chandler Coffey of Brown County, whereas Warner was upset in the semistate semifinal round.

Among wrestlers in the Top 10, there are 11 first-round showdowns – three of them at 160:

•   At 103, No. 5 Travis Barroquillo of Prairie Heights (44-2) faces Roncalli’s No. 10 Josh Kieffer (35-4).
•   At 119, top-ranked D.J. Rackley of Franklin Central (37-1) – who suffered his first loss of the year in resounding major decision fashion, 14-5, to defending 119 state runner-up Cashe’ Quiroga of Lawrence North in the semistate final – goes against Merrillville’s No. 10 Anthony Napules (40-4).
•   At 130, No. 2 D’Marcus Spencer of Pike (40-1) – who suffered his first loss, 5-4, to Carmel’s unranked Will Mascaro in the semistate final – challenges No. 8 Michael Harmon of Southwestern (Hanover) (45-2).
•   At 135, No. 2 Jae VanHorn of Franklin (44-2) battles Portage’s No. 7 Sean McMurray (29-4).
•   At 152, top-ranked Kyle Ulrey of New Palestine (42-0) must face Hanover Central’s No. 9 Matt Sands (38-5) after the latter’s surprising fourth-place semistate finish.
•   At 160, No. 3 Shelby Mappes of Center Grove (38-4) tackles Crown Point’s No. 10 Mark Myers (23-4) in the upper bracket … No. 5 Tanner Wedding of Evansville Memorial (41-3) draws Delphi’s No. 8 Braden Atwood (47-3) in the lower bracket … and that winner will face the survivor of No. 2 Caleb Freeman of Greenfield-Central (42-1) vs. Northridge’s No. 9 Ross Powell (38-1) – each of whom suffered their first loss of the season at last week’s semistates.
•   At 171, top-ranked undefeated defending 160-pound champion Cooper Samuels of Floyd Central (43-0) gets Pendleton Heights’ No. 9 Matt Todd (37-5).
•   At 189, No. 4 Stephen Stahl of Elkhart Memorial (25-4) opens with Providence’s No. 10 Ethan Cook (29-3).
•   At heavyweight, it’s No. 4 Zachary Campbell of Evansville Reitz (40-1) vs. Plymouth’s No. 10 Justin Deurloo (37-7).

Finally, the battle at 145 between one-loss No. 3 Ethan Ott of Columbus North (49-1) and one-loss Fort Wayne Dwenger’s No. 12 Dan Nix (39-1).

That oughta keep your attention as the classes dwindle from 16 to eight, don’tcha think?

Oh, one other thing. Carmel’s Mascaro is 41-1 at 130, Evansville Mater Dei’s Drew Lappe is 39-2 at 140. Each wrestles for a perennial power, and each is a semistate champion. WHY ARE THEY UNRANKED?

Stay tuned to HoosierAuthority.com for opening-round results. Till then, click here for class-by-class state finals brackets complete with records and rankings!

Green or red? Share your thoughts on our Wrestling message board.

W STATE FINALS: Inside the brackets

A unique look into Friday first-round matchups

Published: 02/14/2008

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W STATE FINALS: Inside the brackets A unique look into Friday first-round matchups Published: 02/14/2008 By E. Shawn Aylsworth Managing Editor Has it already been a year since Hanover Central’s Andrew Howe tech-falled his way through the 152-pound bracket at the individual state finals at Conseco Fieldhouse? Since eventual team champion Evansville Mater Dei brought a state-best 11 wrestlers to the finals, only to have but one advance to the championship round? Since Anderson Highland’s Camden Eppert came out in that Scottish plaid singlet before winning the 103 crown? Sheesh. Where DOES the time go ... As is my wont, come along as I take a look at extra-interesting matchups from this weekend’s 70th Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals. Juicy first-round matchups on Friday There are four opening-night bouts that feature wrestlers that are both ranked in the first five of their respective classes. They are: • At 112, the aforementioned top-ranked defending 103 state champ Eppert (37-2) goes against Brown County’s No. 4 Mitchell Richey (36-1). Eppert faces this predicament after his second straight Saturday championship loss to No. 2 Brandon Wright of Indianapolis Cathedral (the defending 112 state runner-up), while Richey suffered his first loss of the year in the semistate semifinals. • At 130, we have top-ranked Kyle Marsh of West Noble (42-1) facing Crown Point’s No. 5 Eric Roach (38-3). Marsh suffered his first loss of the year in the semistate semifinals, whereas Roach dropped his second straight Saturday championship to Valparaiso’s Tom Churchard (the defending state runner-up at 130). • At 145, it’s No. 2 George Markou of Peru (45-3) vs. Evansville Reitz’s No. 4 Connor Houchins (44-7). Markou was upset in the semistate finals by No. 8 Tyler Baker of Bellmont, while Houchins dropped a semistate semifinal last week. • At 215, Jasper’s No. 2 Jeremy Steinhart (38-2) will open with No. 5 Colin Warner of Tipton (36-4). Steinhart was forced to injury default in the semistate finals to undefeated No. 19 Chandler Coffey of Brown County, whereas Warner was upset in the semistate semifinal round. Among wrestlers in the Top 10, there are 11 first-round showdowns – three of them at 160: • At 103, No. 5 Travis Barroquillo of Prairie Heights (44-2) faces Roncalli’s No. 10 Josh Kieffer (35-4). • At 119, top-ranked D.J. Rackley of Franklin Central (37-1) – who suffered his first loss of the year in resounding major decision fashion, 14-5, to defending 119 state runner-up Cashe’ Quiroga of Lawrence North in the semistate final – goes against Merrillville’s No. 10 Anthony Napules (40-4). • At 130, No. 2 D’Marcus Spencer of Pike (40-1) – who suffered his first loss, 5-4, to Carmel’s unranked Will Mascaro in the semistate final – challenges No. 8 Michael Harmon of Southwestern (Hanover) (45-2). • At 135, No. 2 Jae VanHorn of Franklin (44-2) battles Portage’s No. 7 Sean McMurray (29-4). • At 152, top-ranked Kyle Ulrey of New Palestine (42-0) must face Hanover Central’s No. 9 Matt Sands (38-5) after the latter’s surprising fourth-place semistate finish. • At 160, No. 3 Shelby Mappes of Center Grove (38-4) tackles Crown Point’s No. 10 Mark Myers (23-4) in the upper bracket … No. 5 Tanner Wedding of Evansville Memorial (41-3) draws Delphi’s No. 8 Braden Atwood (47-3) in the lower bracket … and that winner will face the survivor of No. 2 Caleb Freeman of Greenfield-Central (42-1) vs. Northridge’s No. 9 Ross Powell (38-1) – each of whom suffered their first loss of the season at last week’s semistates. • At 171, top-ranked undefeated defending 160-pound champion Cooper Samuels of Floyd Central (43-0) gets Pendleton Heights’ No. 9 Matt Todd (37-5). • At 189, No. 4 Stephen Stahl of Elkhart Memorial (25-4) opens with Providence’s No. 10 Ethan Cook (29-3). • At heavyweight, it’s No. 4 Zachary Campbell of Evansville Reitz (40-1) vs. Plymouth’s No. 10 Justin Deurloo (37-7). Finally, the battle at 145 between one-loss No. 3 Ethan Ott of Columbus North (49-1) and one-loss Fort Wayne Dwenger’s No. 12 Dan Nix (39-1). That oughta keep your attention as the classes dwindle from 16 to eight, don’tcha think? Oh, one other thing. Carmel’s Mascaro is 41-1 at 130, Evansville Mater Dei’s Drew Lappe is 39-2 at 140. Each wrestles for a perennial power, and each is a semistate champion. WHY ARE THEY UNRANKED? Stay tuned to HoosierAuthority.com for opening-round results. Till then, click here for class-by-class state finals brackets complete with records and rankings! Green or red? Share your thoughts on our Wrestling message board.